Next generation wireless communication systems allowing a suitable quality of service (QoS) and an enhanced security are needed to properly deal with complex scenarios characterized by multiple users as well as different standards. In this framework, smart antennas have been recognized as promising tools for an efficient management of the physical layer thanks to their capability to steer the main lobe of the beam pattern to track the desired signal and cancel the interferences. Unfortunately, the methodological difficulties in controlling fully-adaptive solutions prevented a widespread application of smart antennas in current wireless communications. Accordingly, the development of robust, high-performance and computationally efficient control algorithm to reconfigure the smart antenna system in real time are currently of great interest from the scientific and industrial viewpoint.

Wireless Cellular Networks, WIFI Systems, Mobile Communications

Smart Antenna Prototype

Example Of Pattern Reconfiguration

Members of the ELEDIA Research Center have developed several optimization-based methodologies for the control of smart antenna systems, which are based on the exploitation of Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). Such approaches are motivated by the fact that the real-time optimal control of smart antennas can be easily recasted as an optimization problem where the fitness function depends on the SINR and is continuously updated at each time-step to take into account the changing interference/environment conditions. More specifically, the research activities carried out in the ELEDIA Research Center have been focused on the study, development, and prototyping of fully-adaptive smart antenna systems controlled through EAs such as the Particle Swarm Optimization. Moreover, the application of Memory-Enhanced control strategies has been investigated as well.